Socket for incandescent lamps



June 15 1926. 1,589,164

R. HITCHCOCK SOCKET FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS Filed March 27. 1922 Figl.

Inventor Ralph Hitchcock,

His Attorneg Patented June 1 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH HITCHCOCK, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSI GNOR T GENERAL ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, A GORPOM'IION OF NEW YORK.

SQOKET FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

Application filed larch 27, 1822. Serial No. 547,154.

The present invention relates to incandescent electric lighting, and more especially to sockets for decorative lighting.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of decorative socket which shall be very hardy, of few parts, and adapted to be connected to elecaperture 2 at the top for passage of the flexible conductors 3, a substantial holdin and strengthening bead 4 at the lower on and a cavity 5 with substantially cylindrical walls.

The electric contacts comprise a screw shell contact 6 and a center contact 7 adapted to enga respectively with the usual contacts on t e base of an incandescent lam (not shown). The screw shell contact 6 is in the form of a sheet metal cylinder with a coarse thread 8 impressed in the main portion thereof, an outwardly flaring flange 9 at 1 the lower end of suflicient size to close the end of the central cavity 5' in the outer shell, and with its u per end spun over the periphery of an insu atin'g washer 10. The

center contact 7 is in the form of an eyelet extending through the center of the insulating washer 10 and upset about the ad acent shoulders thereof. The two contacts 6 and '7 and the washer 10 thus form a unltary structure, as indicated in Fig.- 4.

The means for securing the unitary contact structure within the cavity 5, of the outer insulating shell 1 consists of an anchor yoke 11,.as shown in Fig. 3, andmade of .a sheet metal punchin having a ring portion 12 and a plurahty of flexible arms 13 bent up from the periphery thereof and with their free ends inclmed outwardly. 'The upper end of the screw. shell contact 6 is a apted to enter and receive the ring portions 12, while the arms 13 extend freely over the threaded portion thereof. 'When connecting the socket to the flexible conductors 3, the latter arethreaded through the central aperture 2 in the outer shell 1 and pulled through for several inches so that the shell will not interfere with the other assembling operations. One wire is soldered to the screw shell contact 6 at the level of the anchor ring 12 so that the latter is simultaneously attached to the screw shell, and the other wire is entered in and soldered to the eyelet constituting the center contact 7. By pulling upon the wires 3 and fore-- ing the outer shell down, the contact unit Wlllbe forced home therein and frictionally retained by means of the arms 13 engaging and indenting the wall of the cavity thereof. When it is desired to make the socket I weatherproof, the unoccupied space between the contact unit and the cavity wall is filled with pitch poured while hot through the centra aperture 2. I

While I have shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is -1. In a lamp socket, the combination of an outer shell of insulating material having a cavity extending therein from one end, a screw'shell contact adapted to enter said cavity and having a continuous end flange adalylyted to engage the end wall of saidouter she a center contact connected to said screw shell throughinsulation, and flexible arms disposed between-said screw shell and the. side wall of said cavity for frictionally anchoring the screw shell in said cavity.

V 2. In a lamp socket, the COIIlblIlfllJlOIlOf an outer shell having a cavity therein, a screw shell contact, and a ring yoke connected to said contact and having a plurality of arms enga ing the wall of said cavity.

3. In a amp socket, the combination of an outer shell of moulded insulating material having a cavity therein, a screw shellcontact having at one end a flange adapted to enga ethe end wall about said cavity and at its ot or end an insulating washer secured thereto, an eyelet contact secured in saidinsulating washer, and an anchor yoke comprising a ring surrounding and attached to said screw shell contact and provided with a plurality of flexible arms adapted to enga e the wall of said cavity.

fn witness whereof, I have hereunto se my hand this 24th day of March 1922.

RALPH HITGHCOCK.

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